Performance, productivity, sustainability - achieve these three targets in order to win the Next Generation Container Port (NGCP) Challenge's top prize of USD1 million.

Jointly organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), the NGCP Challenge seeks to identify ideas that will achieve a quantum leap in port performance, productivity and sustainability for a new generation of container port that is set 10 years in the future.

The NGCP Challenge was officially launched today by Capt M Segar, MPA's Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) at Mandarin Oriental Singapore. Registration for the international competition is open till 31 July 2012. Participants will have to submit their proposals by 31 December 2012. Submissions will be evaluated by an international panel, comprising representatives from the Singapore government and the maritime industry.

"The current landscape is such that high demands are placed on port infrastructure in the world. It is especially important for Singapore, as a land-scarce nation, to look for innovative proposals that will allow us to achieve an exponential leap in performance, productivity and sustainability. We believe that this competition will allow us to identify ideas that will not only benefit the Port of Singapore, but also revolutionise the entire container port industry," said Capt M Segar.

Participants will be required to consider several operating specifications, such as a handling capacity of at least 20 million Twenty-foot equivalent units, 24/7 operations and a 90 per cent berth on arrival for ships. Their design should also be operational within the given land profile and also be environmentally sustainable. These specifications are challenges currently faced by many established container ports around the world.

The winning proposal will be announced at the next Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), which will take place from 7 to 12 April 2013. In addition to the top prize, MPA and SMI will also set aside S$5 million in R&D grant to develop promising proposals and concepts. Before the winner and commendation awards are announced, shortlisted proposals will also be displayed in a public exhibition that will be held in conjunction with SMW 2013.

"As a leading container hub port, it is important for Singapore to continually innovate and leverage on cutting-edge technologies to operate the container ports of the future. The NGCP Challenge serves to support SMI's R&D strategy on R&D for breakthrough applications as well as to develop our thought leadership in port design," said Mr Heng Chiang Gnee, Executive Director of the Singapore Maritime Institute.

For more details on the challenge statement, visit www.maritimeinstitute.sg/portchallenge